Junior high team inspired by player with autism

In this Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 photo, Houlton Price plays basketball in the first quarter of the junior varsity game at Riverglen Junior High School in Boise, Idaho. Price, 15, is autistic and has loved basketball since he was small. His favorite thing about basketball is shooting the ball; his specialty is three-pointers. "Every game is so intense," says his mother, Teresa Price. "Itâ€™s like the Final Four, playing their hearts out."

BOISE, Idaho — Ninth-grader Houlton Price hovers around the 3-point line in the first quarter of the junior varsity game Thursday afternoon at Riverglen Junior High School in Boise.

His teammates thunder down the court, with Hillside players in hot pursuit. A teammate pauses, slowing the play, and tosses Houlton the ball.

Houlton takes aim and fires.

"We work well," said teammate Grayson Barrutia, 14. "We know how to get the ball to Houlton when he wants the ball. We're a good team."

Houlton, 15, has autism and has loved basketball since he was small. "A long time," he says. He's played with the Grizzlies for two years.

He plays in the first quarter of every game, and referees and the opposing team know what to do when Houlton has the ball.

"He just stands there, and the other kids back off," says Riverglen varsity coach Tom Unger. "Kudos to the other seven schools. It's really cool."

As for his teammates, Houlton is just a member of their team.

"I've known Houlton since sixth grade," says Charlie Chaloupsky, 14. "He really helps us. He pretty much points out we all have weaknesses, that we all have something to work on.